Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers
A growing LGBTQ+ population is accompanied by an increasing number of LGBTQ+ caregivers of older adults. However, the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ caregivers remain poorly understood within health and social systems. Caregiving research has traditionally focused on heterosexual caregivers,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125000518 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1825206896223584256 |
|---|---|
| author | Steven Hall Natasha Hubbard Murdoch Darien Dyck Adam Stacey |
| author_facet | Steven Hall Natasha Hubbard Murdoch Darien Dyck Adam Stacey |
| author_sort | Steven Hall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A growing LGBTQ+ population is accompanied by an increasing number of LGBTQ+ caregivers of older adults. However, the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ caregivers remain poorly understood within health and social systems. Caregiving research has traditionally focused on heterosexual caregivers, often overlooking the distinct experiences of LGBTQ+ caregivers. This scoping review compiles literature that highlights the unique challenges, needs, and support systems required by LGBTQ+ caregivers. We used Arksey & O'Malley's five-step iterative scoping review methodology and identified relevant studies through a search of three electronic databases conducted on May 11, 2023. A total of 57 items were included in this review: 13 quantitative studies, 22 qualitative studies, 6 mixed methods studies, 2 scoping reviews, 1 literature review, and 13 grey literature records. Through a thematic synthesis, we identified five major themes: LGBTQ+ caregivers are highly active in providing informal care; queer caregiving has unique complexities; LGBTQ+ caregivers want to feel recognized and understood; LGBTQ+ caregivers are at high risk of becoming overwhelmed; and challenges navigating heteronormative health systems. This scoping review highlights the distinct experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers and their specific support needs within their caregiving role. Findings from this review highlight the importance of healthcare professionals receiving comprehensive LGBTQ+ focused education to better understand and support LGBTQ+ caregivers. We emphasize the need of LGBTQ+ caregivers to feel recognized and understood within health systems, highlighting that this population of caregivers is at higher risk of becoming overwhelmed. Further research is needed to address the gaps in knowledge, provide effective interventions, and draft policies to support LGBTQ+ caregivers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b05d676979c246c9a7d949edb13f3987 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-b05d676979c246c9a7d949edb13f39872025-02-07T04:48:16ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-0111101324Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregiversSteven Hall0Natasha Hubbard Murdoch1Darien Dyck2Adam Stacey3Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Canada; Corresponding author.College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, CanadaSchool of Nursing, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, CanadaA growing LGBTQ+ population is accompanied by an increasing number of LGBTQ+ caregivers of older adults. However, the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ caregivers remain poorly understood within health and social systems. Caregiving research has traditionally focused on heterosexual caregivers, often overlooking the distinct experiences of LGBTQ+ caregivers. This scoping review compiles literature that highlights the unique challenges, needs, and support systems required by LGBTQ+ caregivers. We used Arksey & O'Malley's five-step iterative scoping review methodology and identified relevant studies through a search of three electronic databases conducted on May 11, 2023. A total of 57 items were included in this review: 13 quantitative studies, 22 qualitative studies, 6 mixed methods studies, 2 scoping reviews, 1 literature review, and 13 grey literature records. Through a thematic synthesis, we identified five major themes: LGBTQ+ caregivers are highly active in providing informal care; queer caregiving has unique complexities; LGBTQ+ caregivers want to feel recognized and understood; LGBTQ+ caregivers are at high risk of becoming overwhelmed; and challenges navigating heteronormative health systems. This scoping review highlights the distinct experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers and their specific support needs within their caregiving role. Findings from this review highlight the importance of healthcare professionals receiving comprehensive LGBTQ+ focused education to better understand and support LGBTQ+ caregivers. We emphasize the need of LGBTQ+ caregivers to feel recognized and understood within health systems, highlighting that this population of caregivers is at higher risk of becoming overwhelmed. Further research is needed to address the gaps in knowledge, provide effective interventions, and draft policies to support LGBTQ+ caregivers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125000518CaregiversLGBTQOlder adultsInformal careScoping reviews |
| spellingShingle | Steven Hall Natasha Hubbard Murdoch Darien Dyck Adam Stacey Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers Social Sciences and Humanities Open Caregivers LGBTQ Older adults Informal care Scoping reviews |
| title | Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers |
| title_full | Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers |
| title_fullStr | Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers |
| title_short | Queer caregiving with older adults: A scoping review of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ family and friend caregivers |
| title_sort | queer caregiving with older adults a scoping review of the lived experiences of lgbtq family and friend caregivers |
| topic | Caregivers LGBTQ Older adults Informal care Scoping reviews |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125000518 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stevenhall queercaregivingwitholderadultsascopingreviewofthelivedexperiencesoflgbtqfamilyandfriendcaregivers AT natashahubbardmurdoch queercaregivingwitholderadultsascopingreviewofthelivedexperiencesoflgbtqfamilyandfriendcaregivers AT dariendyck queercaregivingwitholderadultsascopingreviewofthelivedexperiencesoflgbtqfamilyandfriendcaregivers AT adamstacey queercaregivingwitholderadultsascopingreviewofthelivedexperiencesoflgbtqfamilyandfriendcaregivers |